with reason and with nature too

 our task is to destroy the trade of kings

looking past mountains to the open plain

we reach the place we seek on outspread wings

 

of little value are the golden things

piled high upon the smiling traitor's wain

our task is to destroy the trade of kings

 

the freshest water from the coolest springs

must serve to cool each brow and cleanse the stain

we reach the place we seek on outspread wings

 

no one expects to bear each of the swings

from past to future but we can't abstain

our task is to destroy the trade of kings

 

and so we must withstand the constant stings

of noisy insects and ignore the pain

we reach the place we seek on outspread wings

 

you can't ignore the loudest bell that rings

fervent with joy at the returning rain

our task is to destroy the trade of kings

we reach the place we seek on outspread wings

in the realm of the dog

 some meaning must inhere in what's not said

by any of the folk who claim our time

with words as filled with music as with slime

and promises to scare off all the dread

that's come upon us now the wiser head

knows what is common and what things are prime

those measures suited for a harsher clime

like ours now that the heroes are all dead

so that we listen all the claimants shout

enough to shake the earth and raise up high

those who have passed beneath the heavy soil

but none of us knows what it's all about

or can discern small truth from the big lie

without expenditure of too much toil